Home Improvement Today?

I'm one of the people @Pchop would call an asshole designer. I've done it numerous times while I've worked here - when we're redoing a lab, us construction guys don't know how you need your lab set up with chemicals, fume hoods, -80 freezers, how you need things grouped together for efficiency, what CAN'T be next to each other, etc. I'll get the space we're going to renovate cleaned up then give them a drawing with 12"x12" squares on it. If your countertop is 2 feet deep, that's 2 squares, 8 foot long fume hood, that's 4 squares. They are invested in the layout and get what they need, we assist in telling them what we can and can't do based on their layout. I've had pretty good success with that setup

Or "how are we supposed to replace the high bay lamps in the basketball court when they burn out and you didn't give us enough room to get a lift out onto the floor?"

Here is my current "on the down low" project for today so don't tell anyone about this, guys.

I have 3 groups, all of which need overhead doors to get equipment in and out of their space, need shop space for parts storage and working on equipment and office space for the dreaded admin stuff. This was my first draft. We'll see if this goes anywhere. FYI - a high percentage of the stuff I'm asked to draw up never gets off of the ground. It's kind of irritating sometimes.



Simple enough layout but it took me a bit to get it to that point. Existing building renovations are always entertaining. Scope creep so we legally have to get an Architect on board is always annoying because the plans inevitably come back 98% the same as my plan, just with their fees slapped on top of it.

 

I love calling the arch out at the end and getting money from them. Only happened once in 22 yrs so far. Back in 2006, I did it, proved it to an arbitration judge, got $850k from them.

 

Cause your arch’s and eng can’t use the metric system either.

Fuck that, your good enough to figure it out on your own.
You and I have talked plenty enough to know we don’t really need dims. Until the windows and doors of course.

 

Oh almost forgot, walked out a doorway this morning on the ground floor, I was heated about something and like a regard didn’t look up, the shell sub failed to have a spotter on the ground and they were grouting the 3rd flr CMU, right as I stepped out the door a blob of grout smacked me square on top of my hard hat and covered me. I looked up and no one was there. Fuckers ducked back so I couldn’t see them. Went up there and no one was there and the hose was laying there shut off.
they hit the head guy on the head with a basketball size of wet grout. I don’t blame them for running.
Fitting end it a shit week.

 

we don't use metric in residential construction here

 

What?!!!!?
You use American measuring?!!?
Blasphemy!!!!

 

only civil engineering and big commercial jobs use metric , residential is 99% imperial for most stuff still

 

We call it “standard” but imperial rings of the Force.

 

we don't , so there

 

Wow, just wow...

 

Thats because your lumber companies havent come out with 1 meter by 3 meter plywood, right?

 

all canadian made plywood is metric

 

Plywood is the 1%.

 

my main complaint is that they only sell it with the 12.0 batteries. i would've much preferred to use the 6.0 batteries i already have.
it's got plenty of power, motorized function is faster than i've ever been able to use. the included bag is a little irritating, as it's much harder to tell when it's full than any other gas mower i've used in the past. it also doesn't seem to throw the grass into the bag as hard, so i end up emptying the bag faster than i used to.

no wife, but even when i lived with my parents, none of those applied.

it really always comes down to the use of specialty tools, and/or expected time frame to completion ranked to how inconvenienced the family is by the DIY.

ie: replacing the roof is left to professionals due to them sending a crew and getting it done in a day or two. a/c maintenance is done by pro because of line set tools and nicer to blame someone else when mama is hot! but backed up sewers, sticky door locks, weepy faucets, bathroom remodels, or fireplace cleanings all fall firmly into the DIY category.

 

I’m not sure anyone without kids really understands the dynamics. Unless you’re fortunate enough to have a wife committed to the family or something.

Every time I want to DIY I have to budget in terms of hours of childcare which based on emotional impact feels like it costs about $1000/hour.

 

or else what ? Exactly

 

Mine are 2 and 6 months, so I totally understand where you’re coming from.